Bioscaffold infused with growth factor may yield human biologic joint replacements

Investigators from University of Missouri and Columbia University say a proof of concept study that created biological joints in animals leads them to believe that biological joint replacement for humans is not far behind, according to a University of Missouri press release.

James L. Cook

In the study published in The Lancet, Jeremy Mao, PhD, and colleagues created new cartilage in rabbits using a biological scaffold in the animals’ proximal humeral joints. The investigators infused the scaffold with a growth factor, TGF-beta 3, to encourage the rabbit’s cells to differentiate into cartilage and bone cells and then used a surgical technique used for human shoulder replacement to implant the scaffolds into the animals’ shoulders.

As a control group, some animals were implanted with scaffolds not infused with growth factors.

Cartilage regeneration

“The device was designed with both biological and mechanical factors in mind,” James L. Cook, DVM, a researcher at Missouri University College of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, stated in the press release. “It is unique in design and composition, and in how it stimulates the body’s own cells. This is the first time we have seen cartilage regeneration using this type of scaffold.”

Cook and colleagues used a bioscaffold made of a composite of poly (epsilon-caprolactone) and hydroxyapatite, according to the abstract.

Compared to controls, rabbits with the infused bioscaffolds resumed weightbearing and functional use of their limbs faster and more consistently. At 4 months postoperatively, cartilage had formed in their scaffolds creating a new, functional humeral head cartilage surface, according to the release.

The technique appeared safe based on the absence of complications and adverse events. Its advantage is avoiding the need to harvest and implant cells, which requires multiple surgeries, based on comments in the release.

Next steps

The next step toward FDA approval and clinical use is to study the technique in larger animals, Cook noted in the press release.

“If we continue to prove the safety and efficacy of this biologic joint replacement strategy, then we can get FDA approval for use of this technology for joint replacements in people,” he stated. “We are still in the early phases of this process, but this study gives a big boost to its feasibility.”

The New York State Stem Cell Science and U.S. National Institutes of Health funded the study.

Reference:
Lee CH. The Lancet. 2010. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60668-X

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